Endocrine disorders: Hypothyroid Crisis in Dogs

Question 1

True or False: Canine myxedema coma, or hypothyroid crisis, is a common, life threatening complication of hypothyroidism.

Answer 1

False, it is a RARE complication of hypothyroidism

Question 2

What is most commonly occurring in canines diagnosed with hypothyroid crisis/ myxedema coma?
What clinical signs will you expect to see in hypothyroid dogs in crisis?

Answer 2

Infection

More commonly, dogs will NOT display all the classic clinical signs of myxedema, hypothermia, bradycardia, hypoventilation, hypotension and coma

Question 3

Treatment for canine patients in hypothyroid crisis includes -?

Answer 3

Symptomatic care

• Fluid therapy, vasopressors for hypotension/ hyponatremia
• Warming, etc. for hypothermia
• Mechanical ventilation is hypoventilating

Levothyroxine, 5 mcg/kg IV BID